Thailand Extends Free Tourist Insurance Until Year-End

[webfact]

 

Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports has extended its free insurance campaign for international visitors until the end of December. Originally slated to expire on August 31st, the program has been in place since January 1st and offers critical coverage for accidents, emergencies, and deaths.

 

The extended insurance program provides substantial coverage: up to 1 million baht for cases of death, 300,000 baht for incidents resulting in permanent disabilities or organ loss, and up to 500,000 baht for medical expenses due to accidents. This initiative aims to bolster tourists' confidence by ensuring they have financial protection during their stay.

 

Sermsak Pongpanit, Tourism and Sports Minister, emphasized the program’s importance in assisting foreign visitors during emergencies, including accidents, crimes, and natural disasters. This move is expected to make Thailand an even more attractive destination for international tourists, fostering a sense of security and commitment to visitor well-being.

 

However, coverage is not provided if tourists have insurance from their travel providers or if the place of accommodation or tourist attraction offers independent insurance. The scheme intends to fill gaps left by tourists' current insurance plans, giving them peace of mind without incurring additional costs.

 

This year-long extension continues to support Thailand's tourism sector, which has faced significant challenges due to global economic uncertainties and the lingering effects of the pandemic. By maintaining this insurance coverage, Thailand aims to reassure potential visitors and stimulate its recovering tourism industry.

 

With this initiative, the government hopes that tourists can enjoy their travel experience without worrying about unexpected financial burdens due to unforeseen circumstances, boosting overall visitor numbers and extending stays.

 

The combination of natural beauty, rich culture, and now, enhanced safety measures, makes Thailand an increasingly appealing destination for global travellers.

 

TOP: Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Tourism and Sports. File photo courtesy: Wikipedia

 

-- 2024-06-24

 

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[Lopburikid]

Be careful tourists. won't cover anything if alcohol is involved, dangerous activities and/or using motorbikes, cars without the correct paperwork and safety issues, such as helmet and seatbelts

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The combination of natural beauty, rich culture, and now, enhanced safety measures, makes Thailand an increasingly appealing destination for global travellers.

 

[Nomadic1460]

Do we have to do anything on arrival to obtain this insurance offer by Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

I appreciate any info from readers who has arrived in Thailand and has this policy. Thanks 

[Classic Ray]

This is simply a protection for hiso hospital owners from their cronies in government who will use the people’s taxes to pay tourists hospital bills when they default. Nothing to do with reassuring tourists.

[Jackbenimble]

36 minutes ago, Lopburikid said:

Be careful tourists. won't cover anything if alcohol is involved, dangerous activities and/or using motorbikes, cars without the correct paperwork and safety issues, such as helmet and seatbelts

standard stance from insurers. 

[andygrr]

It would be interesting to find out how many visitors have actually used this.

[Pouatchee]

If this policy was implemented a while ago, then why do we still see the occasional go fund me for tourists in hospital?

Ahhh let me venture the first guess... greed

[khunjeff]

28 minutes ago, andygrr said:

It would be interesting to find out how many visitors have actually used this.

 

"In the initial five months of the year, more than 50 foreign tourists applied for compensation, with seven cases approved, including four fatalities and three injuries, resulting in payouts amounting to approximately 4 million baht. There remains about 45 million baht from the originally approved 50 million baht budget."

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1330015-tourism-ministry-seeks-1-billion-baht-for-new-routes/

[Presnock]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports has extended its free insurance campaign for international visitors until the end of December. Originally slated to expire on August 31st, the program has been in place since January 1st and offers critical coverage for accidents, emergencies, and deaths.

 

The extended insurance program provides substantial coverage: up to 1 million baht for cases of death, 300,000 baht for incidents resulting in permanent disabilities or organ loss, and up to 500,000 baht for medical expenses due to accidents. This initiative aims to bolster tourists' confidence by ensuring they have financial protection during their stay.

 

Sermsak Pongpanit, Tourism and Sports Minister, emphasized the program’s importance in assisting foreign visitors during emergencies, including accidents, crimes, and natural disasters. This move is expected to make Thailand an even more attractive destination for international tourists, fostering a sense of security and commitment to visitor well-being.

 

However, coverage is not provided if tourists have insurance from their travel providers or if the place of accommodation or tourist attraction offers independent insurance. The scheme intends to fill gaps left by tourists' current insurance plans, giving them peace of mind without incurring additional costs.

 

This year-long extension continues to support Thailand's tourism sector, which has faced significant challenges due to global economic uncertainties and the lingering effects of the pandemic. By maintaining this insurance coverage, Thailand aims to reassure potential visitors and stimulate its recovering tourism industry.

 

With this initiative, the government hopes that tourists can enjoy their travel experience without worrying about unexpected financial burdens due to unforeseen circumstances, boosting overall visitor numbers and extending stays.

 

The combination of natural beauty, rich culture, and now, enhanced safety measures, makes Thailand an increasingly appealing destination for global travellers.

 

TOP: Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Tourism and Sports. File photo courtesy: Wikipedia

 

-- 2024-06-24

 

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My math may be getting as old as me and the new math came along when my younger daughter was in school so I read in the first sentence that the insurance coverage will be "extended until the end of December.  Then in a later, in the sentence beginning with "This year-long exptension continues..."  my math says from now until then, it will be a 6-month extension only of the program.  Oh well since I am not a tourist, I wouldn't be eligible anyway.

[john donson]

wait, was this in place and was this news here? did I miss that?

 

I only know about the 300 baht the wanted for this, then cancelled, then it was for tourism, even we pay 10x more farang price for national parks and stuff...

[thailand49]

This is a first Im hearing!

[geisha]

Never knew this existed in the first place !! Surely it had to be plastered all over the news ??? Anyone know if Asean Now published it ? 

[bristolgeoff]

From what i know if you are not well accident and other things,most tourist go on the begging bowl  please help on go fund me site.Hospitals will be waiting to charge u from the time u enter the doors or ambulance.Never heard of this cover,but they is something from the the motorbike insurance 50k.But if your fault or drunk forget the cover

[khunPer]

With the former government's aim for "quality tourists", thing like this would not be needed, quality tourists can afford both to buy travel insurance and spend some money domestically...

[QPRFC]

I didn't even know this was available.....I would NOT trust a claim on this anyway.

Get your own insurance !!

[digger70]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

However, coverage is not provided if tourists have insurance from their travel providers or if the place of accommodation or tourist attraction offers independent insurance.

Most Smart Tourists will have Travel Insurance So there will be not too many people have to use this New Scheme.

[Captor]

43 minutes ago, digger70 said:

Most Smart Tourists will have Travel Insurance So there will be not too many people have to use this New Scheme.

Especially since they prefer to hide this insurance. No talk about hub of free insurance or something like that...

[Toby1947]

Great idea until it comes time to payout, don't believe a bloody word these A.holes say.

[kiwikeith]

13 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

This is simply a protection for hiso hospital owners from their cronies in government who will use the people’s taxes to pay tourists hospital bills when they default. Nothing to do with reassuring tourists.

Sounds about right. 

[kiwikeith]

9 hours ago, khunPer said:

With the former government's aim for "quality tourists", thing like this would not be needed, quality tourists can afford both to buy travel insurance and spend some money domestically...

I think the governments idea of quality tourists is gambler's who will flock to Thailand when they build casino's, from China, and Malaysia.

What a basket case Thailand has become, dope shops everywhere, children smoking gunga,Russians hiding in Pattaya from the war,running crime, people jumping out of hotels, and now people beaten up in hua hin for bumping into a drunk Thai gangster who was probably on more than alcohol. And not to forget bodies washing up on the beaches regularly now. Oh I probably should have said bumping into a drunk bunch of Thai thugs, never used to happen in Hua Hin, but now crime is on the increase, NZ no exception, yesterday a jewelry shop was rammed and one of the owners bashed over the head with a hammer, he's in serious condition, shops being ram raided every day, since the pandemic the world has gone mad. 

Edited June 24 by kiwikeith

[khunPer]

14 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

I think the governments idea of quality tourists is gambler's who will flock to Thailand when they build casino's, from China, and Malaysia.

What a basket case Thailand has become, dope shops everywhere, children smoking gunga,Russians hiding in Pattaya from the war,running crime, people jumping out of hotels, and now people beaten up in hua hin for bumping into a drunk Thai gangster who was probably on more than alcohol. And not to forget bodies washing up on the beaches regularly now. Oh I probably should have said bumping into a drunk bunch of Thai thugs, never used to happen in Hua Hin, but now crime is on the increase, NZ no exception, yesterday a jewelry shop was rammed and one of the owners bashed over the head with a hammer, he's in serious condition, shops being ram raided every day, since the pandemic the world has gone mad. 

I don't recall that the former government talked about casino, but the present does...